ABA endorses federal shield bill and urges Senate action

The American Bar Association (ABA) last week publicly endorsed the current version of the federal media shield law in a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.

The ABA urged the committee to move forward with its consideration of the bill, citing compromise between media advocates and the Department of Justice. 

The Senate Judiciary Committee at its meeting last Thursday voted down two proposed amendments to that legislation, indicating that the time for committee or Senate vote on the current version may be nearing. Leahy last week said if committee opponents of the bill continue to hamper progress, the bill ‘s sponsors may bypass the committee and present the it to the full Senate.